The Rules of Attraction
This is a twisted story about sex, drugs, and college. Three disturbed students at Camden college get involved in a love triangle. Sean Bateman is a womanizing drug dealer who falls in love with virginal Lauren (not to be confused with her slutty roommate Lara,) because he inspects that she is his secret admirer, who is leaving notes in his box. Although Lauren does like Sean, she is still infatuated with Victor (her shallow ex boyfriend) who is in Europe for a semester. Lauren used to date Paul before he came out of the closet, and now Paul has his eyes on Sean when he mistakes him for bisexual. Things get more complicated since all the side characters (including the mentioned Lara and Victor) are deeply disturbed as well. Everybody is only looking out for themselves.
Directed by:
Roger Avary
Written by:
Bret Easton Ellis (Novel), Roger Avary
Produced by:
Warner Brothers
Lionsgate
Kingsgate Films
Roger Avary Filmproduktion GmbH
- James Van Der Beek as Sean Bateman
- Shannyn Sossamon as Lauren Hynde
- Jessica Biel as Lara
- Kip Pardue as Victor
- Kate Bosworth as Kelly
Sean Bateman, the character played by James Van Der Beek, is the younger brother of the infamous Patrick Bateman, the main character of American Psycho (2000), a film also based on a novel by Bret Easton Ellis.
Christian Bale turned down an offer to reprise the role of Patrick Bateman.
Christina Ricci turned down an offer to play the character of Lauren Hynde.
The trailer for the movie bears a striking resemblance to the theatrical trailer for Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange (1971). Both trailers feature short clips from the movie being intermixed with nouns and adjectives describing the movie (printed as big bold white text on black background), while classical music plays in the background.
“The End of the World” party scene was filmed on September 11, 2001.
- GLAAD Media Awards – Outstanding Film – Wide Release (Nominated)